Spark plug cleaning device



v. 20, 1962 1.. M. WESTE RHOUSE 3,064,398

SPARK PLUG CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1961 F|G.l FIG.2

3,064,398 PARK PLUG CLEANING DEVICE Louis M. Westerhouse, 2812 W. 28thSt., Birmingham 8, Ala. Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,851 4 Claims.(Cl. 51-186) This invention relates to a cleaning device onto which maybe added an abrasive element and an abrasive substance, a combinationthat is especially adapted for the cleaning of spark plugs for internalcombustion engines.

In the operation of an internal combustion engine, an accumulation ofcarbon and other foreign matter occurs that also in time accumulateswithin the cavity surrounding the insulator at the firing end of thespark plugs and which foreign matter will also accumulate on the saidinsulator itself, causing the spark plug to become short circuited andthereby preventing it from firing properly.

Many spark plug cleaners have been developed for cleaning out thesedeposits within the spark plug but these depend upon a permanentattachment to the cleaner itself which may become clogged andineffective due to metal against the porcelain insulator not providingsuflicient cleaning features to restore the insulator to its originalappearance, especially where the spark plug cannot be dismantled forthis cleaning.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinFIGURE 1 is a view of an elongated double ended cleaning device in whicheither end can be used as a cleaner, thus making it a two-in-onecleaner, with both cleaners being alike or they may vary for differentsize insulators;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a conoavo-convex formation 19 shown at the topon line AA FIG. 1 without the abrasive insert 23 and 24;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the formation 19 shown at the bottom on theline 3-5 FIG. 1 and shows the abrasive applied therein as 23 and 24;

FIG. 4 is a view on line C-C FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 showing a radius for thebody of the devices and a view 25 where the body thickness may bealtered to provide a gauge for the spark gap. This alteration 25 is alsoshown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the formation 19 constructed so as to fitinto the cavity surrounding the insulator at the firing end and whichformation contains an interchangeable stamping out of abrasive cloth asindicated by 23, with 24 being that part of 23 that hooks over a prong22;

PEG. 6 shows two views of an interchangeable abrasive stamping 23 withthe top view as it originally appears when stamped and with 24 being theplace where it is to be buckled so as to be inserted over the prong 22shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 13. In the bottom enlarged view ofthis stamping it is shown with the part 24 buckled so it can be insertedover the prong 22 and with the sides 23 as they appear when inside theformation 19 in FIGS. 3, Sand 13;

FIG. 7 is a view of the double cleaner as shown in FIG. 1 on line D-Dand shows how the formation 19 straddles the ground electrode to thespark plugs 14 and 17 which are shown and where the insulator 16 isexposed by cutting away the threaded portions of the spark plugs at FIG.8 is a folded single ended squeeze type cleaner arranged so the end ofone leg of the cleaner forms a bearing on die outside of the spark plug18 when the formation 1% is squeezed against the insulator 16 and whichformation 19 may be modified as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view on line EE of FIG. 8

3,854,398 Patented Nov. 29, 1962 add which is that leg of the FIG. 8device containing the formation 19.

FIG 10 is a diagram on line F-F FIG. 9 of a radius at the body of thisdevice and which may vary as desired;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view on line G--G of the end of the outside legof the squeeze type cleaner FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view on line H-H FIG. 11 of the radius that may be used atthe outside end and in the body of the cleaning device FIG. 8; I

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the formation 19 as shown on line 1-]FIG. 9 and is similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except that it shows areduced distance for the sides of the formation 19 in the FIG. 8 device.

Having thus described the various figures in this invention it will benoted that 14 in FIG. 7 indicates an ordinary spark plug for internalcombustion engines with the threaded portion cut away at 15 to exposethe insulator 16 which is in the process of being cleaned by anoscillating movement of the cleaning device and with the abrasiveelement inserted within the formation 19 and with the hooked-overportion of the abrasive cloth shown at 24.

In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 13 various views of the formation 19are shown. It will be noted they are tapered, being larger at the end toconform with the insulator and which taper is slightly reduced near thestem which supports the formation 19; however, the are that is formedcontinues into the body of the device.

It will also be noted in the top cleaner formation FIG. 7 and in theFIG. 5, slots 20 are shown. These may be used to add some flexibilityfor the formation 19 when used over various sized insulators. The sameis true with the slots 21 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 13;however, these slots 21 are necessary in order to provide a prong 22onto which the abrasive element 23 may be hooked forming the hump 24 andthrough which slots 21 the abrasive cloth will pass so the abrasivesides 23 will come in contact with the insulator 16 and in addition theslots are necessary to provide openings whereby an abrasive substancemay be contained when this substance is used within the cavitysurrounding the insulator 16 to assist in the cleaning of the cavity andthe said insulator.

In FIGURES 1, 4, 7 and 8, a gauge 25 is shown in the body of the devicethat may be used to check the opening in the spark gap.

To accomplish the process of thoroughly cleaning the spark plug cavitiesand insulators as referred to, the cleaning formation 19 may be firstinserted within the cavity surrounding the insulator 16 to clean it outas much as possible with the possible inclusion of an abrasive substanceduring the oscillating movements of the cleaning device within the saidcavity. To thoroughly clean the said insulator usually requires moreattention and this cleaning can be accomplished by oscillating theabrasive insert 23 in a combination with the cleaning formation 19within the cavity surrounding the insulator 16 and if this does notrestore the said insulator to its original appearance it can be furtherpolished by dampening the abrasive element \and/ or an abrasivesubstance with a liquid thereby using this liquid in combination withthe other features used in the cleaning process.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A spark plug cleaning device provided with a transversely curvedcoucavo convex formation constructed so as to enter the cavitysurrounding the insulator at the firing end of a spark plug, with saidformation having a taper to conform with that of the said insulator andsupported at the center by a stem having :an are which continues fromthe said formation and with said concaveconvex formation having sidesthat will extend under the ground electrode of the said spark plug whenthe said transversely curved conoavoconvex formation is oscillatedwithin the said cavity.

2. A spark plug cleaning device provided with a circular cleaningportion, with its sides extended so as to go under the ground electrodeof the spark plug, when r the said circular portion is oscillated withinthe cavity surrounding the insulator at the firing end of the said sparkplug and with the said circular cleaning portion supported at the centerby a stem that is provided with an are that continues into the body ofthe cleaning device and having a number of longitudinal slots extendingup firom the end between two of which there is a prong over which aninterchangeable abrasive element may be hooked with the sides of thesaid abrasive element passing through fivo of the slots from which thesaid sides of the abrasive element extend around on the inside of thesaid circular cleaning portion, with the abrasive side I of the saidabrasive element turned to polish the said msulator.

3. An elongated double ended spark plug cleaning device having an arcthroughout its entire length with each end provided with a transverselycurved concave-convex 4, substance and between two of which to provide aprong over which an abrasive element may be hooked and with the sides ofthe said abrasive element passing through two of the said slots fromwhich the said sides of the cleaning elements extend around on theinside of the said transversely curved concavo-convex formation with theabrasive sides of the said abrasive elements turned to polish the saidinsulator of the spark plug. 7

4. A folded squeeze inverted U-type spark plug cleaner having an arcthroughout its length and having the end of an outside leg that may besqueezed against the outside surface of the spark plug While the end ofthe opposite leg which contains a transversely curved concaveconvexformation is pressed against the sides of the insulator within thecavityrof the spark plug at the firing end. Said transversely curvedconcavoaconvex formation is provided with .a number of slots extendinglongitudi nally from the end between two of which there is :1 prong overwhich an abrasive element may be hooked with the sides of the saidabrasive element passing through these said slots and from whichslots'the sides of the said abrasive element eXtendiaround on the insideof the said transversely curved concave-convex formation with theabrasive side of the said abrasive element turned so as to polish thesaid insulator as the two legs of this device No references cited.

